1914-12-01 10.2307/j50000862 12 109 10.2307/j50000863 105 1914 10.2307/27823952 sigmxiquar PROPOSED REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION 105-109 PROPOSED REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION These amendments were proposed by a committee consisting of President Cattell, Past-Presidents Williams, Nichols, Williston, Howe, and Eddy, Professors Stieglitz (Chairman of the Council), and F. R. Watson. The printed copy of the Constitution to which the proposed amendments refer is found in the Proceedings of the Thirteenth Convention on page 16, etc. It is reprinted exactly in the Quarter Century Record and History on pages 45 to 55. The So ciety has adopted no amendments since that date. ARTICLE I NAME AND OBJECT Sec. 2 shall be made to read : The object of the Society shall be to encourage original investi gation in science, pure and applied, by scientific meetings and addresses; by publications of scientific matter; by establishing fraternal relations among investigators; by election to membership as a recognition of scientific achievement. ARTICLE II CHAPTERS Sec. shall read: Chapters may be established at any educational institution at which scientific research work is cultivated and promoted. Sec. 2 shall read : Alumni chapters may be established at any place other than an educational institution, wherever the objects of the Society would be furthered. Sec. 3 shall read : A petition for a charter for the establishment of a new chapter shall be communicated to the President of the Society, who shall refer it to the Executive Committee of the Society for consideration and report to the (next) convention with its recommendation. A charter shall be granted by a three-fourths vote of the convention. Sec. 4 shall be deleted. Sec. 5 shall read: "Sec. 4. A charter for the establishment of a new charter shall be issued by the President immediately after the convention, granting "S ocr-23 p-23 6 SIGMA XI QUARTERLY it in the following form : To whom it may concern, etc., as in old Sec. 6. Sec. 6 shall be incorporated in the new Sec. 4 as indicated. Add the new Section 5 : The officers of each chapter shall be a president, a vice-presi dent, a treasurer, and a secretary, each elected to serve two years. Sec. 7 shall be deleted. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP The whole article shall read as follows : Section . The Society shall consist of associate and active members. Sec. 2. The following and no others are eligible to associate membership in a chapter in any institution: (a) Any graduate student who has shown marked excellence in two or more departments of pure or applied science. (b) Any undergraduate student who has completed all the required work of the first three years and who has shown marked excellence in two or more departments of pure or applied science. Sec. 3. The following and no others are eligible to active mem bership in a chapter in any institution : (a) Any professor or instructor of the institution who has shown noteworthy achievement as an original investigator in some branch of pure or applied science. (b) Any investigator in pure or applied science who is not connected with an institution having a chapter of its own. (c) Any graduate or undergraduate student who has proved his ability in scientific research by the performance of an original investigation of merit. (See the By-laws for the definition of original investigation of merit and for the rules governing nomina tions under this section.) In the election of active members the following considera tions concerning the meaning of the term "original investigation" should be followed : By original investigation shall be understood : (a) Original work in pure or applied science suitable for publication. (b) Original work of observation or experimentation in medicine that has been published. (c) Original constructive work in engineering or architecture. Sec. 4. Associate members shall have all the privileges of the active members except the right to vote, and only with such other restrictions as may be specifically stated in the Constitution or By laws of the Society. ocr-24 p-24 PROPOSED REVISION 107 Sec. 5. Members of any chapter who may become connected with another institution at which there is a chapter shall be entitled to enrollment to the corresponding membership in the latter on pre sentation of satisfactory credentials. Sec. 6. Alumni chapters shall be composed of such active and associate members as desire to be transferred to them from collegiate chapters and of such others as may be elected to membership in the Society by active members of the alumni chapters under the rules stated under Section 3 of this Article. ARTICLE IV ELECTION OF MEMBERS Sec. shall read: Active and associate members of a chapter shall be elected by the active membership of such chapter in the manner to be herein after described. Sec. 4, line 7, strike out the word "recording". Sec. 5, strike out this section. Sec. 6, strike out this section. ARTICLE V INITIATION Substitute for Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4, the following: Sec. . Each new member shall pledge himself to uphold the principles of the Society, shall affix his signature to the Constitution and receive a certificate, signed by the President and Secretary of the chapter, bearing the seal of the Society and reading as follows: The Society of the Sigma Xi, etc., etc. (form as given in the old Sec. 4, but reading "membership or associate membership," according to the status of the new member). ARTICLE VI INSIGNIA (See By-laws concerning associate members). ARTICLE VII OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY The entire Article shall read as follows: Sec. . The officers of the Society shall be a president, a secre tary, a treasurer, and an executive committee of seven members, of which the president and secretary shall be ex-officio members. Sec. 2. The officers of the Society shall be elected at conven tions for a term of two years, excepting that the elective members of the Executive Committee shall be elected for terms of five years, one member to retire each year. ocr-25 p-25 8 SIGMA XI QUARTERLY Sec. 3, The duties of the executive officers and of the Execu tive Committee of the Society shall be those which usually pertain to the several offices. The Secretary shall hold and preserve all the papers of the Society. ARTICLE VIII CONVENTIONS Sec. I. A regular convention of the Society, consisting of delegates from each chapter, shall be held annually at such time and place as determined on by the Executive Committee of the Society, due notice being given to each chapter. DELEGATES Sec. 2. (a) Each chapter in good standing shall be entitled to a representation of not more than three delegates at each convention. Sec. 2. (b) and (c) stay as at present, (d) and (e) are trans ferred to the By-laws. Sec. 3 on credentials is to be transferred to the By-laws. QUORUM Sec. 5. The delegates from the chapters in good standing in the Society present at a duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum at a convention. ARTICLE IX EXPENSES (To stand as at present.) ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS Sec. I. This Constitution may be altered or amended at a con vention by a two-thirds vote of the chapters represented, provided such amendment has been proposed at the preceding convention. ARTICLE XI BY-LAWS Sec. I. Conventions shall make such by-laws not in conflict with this Constitution, as may be necessary for the proper govern ment of the Society. Such by-laws shall become operative when confirmed by a majority vote of the chapters represented at a con vention. Appendix V Cancel the words "the Tuesday evening". BY-LAWS I. CONVENTION OF THE SOCIETY I. At the conventions of the Society, the order of business shall be the following : ocr-26 p-26 PROPOSED REVISION (a) Appointment by the President of three members to serve as a committee on credentials. (b) Report of the committee on credentials. (c) Reading of the proceedings of the last convention. (d) Reports of officers. (e) Reports from chapters. (f) Reports of committees. (g) General business. (h) Election of officers. ( i ) Adjournment. 2. The regular order of business at a convention may be sus pended by the consent of three-fourths of the chapters represented. 3. The appointment of each delegate to a convention shall be certified to by the President or Secretary of the chapter appointing him. 4. The expenses of at least one of the delegates shall be paid in whole or in part by the chapter sending him, if his presence at the sessions of the convention have been certified to by the Secretary of the Society. 5. The convention may designate an assistant secretary to keep the minutes of the meeting. II. OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY 1. The terms of the officers of the Society shall begin imme diately after their election and continue for two years, or until their successors are elected. In case of vacancies, the executive com mittee shall designate officers to act until the next meeting of a con vention. 2. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to consider and make recommendations on the granting of charters as provided for in Art. II, Sec. 3, on the basis of the following considerations : In determining the award of a charter to an institution a close scrutiny should be given to the facilities and opportunities of the institution for the advancement and encouragement of original re search in science, and to the qualifications of its scientific faculty to accomplish these ends. III. MEMBERSHIP I. In the election of active members the candidate must be vouched for by two or more active members of the Society and the nature of the work done and the names of the vouchers shall be published in an official paper of the Society. 2. Associate members shall be entitled only to wear the emblem of the Society as a small pin. ocr-27 p-27 eng 4 DECEMBER, 1914 Sigma Xi Quarterly 2 1 10.2307/i27823948 misc 0096977X